Mixing liquids



June 10 1924,

R. KNOLLENBERG MIXING LIQUIDS Filed Feb. 17 1923 Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLF KNOLLENBERG, OF LUB EGK, GERMANY.

MIXING LIQUIDS.

Application filed February 17, 1923. Serial No. 619,653.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLF KNOLLEN? Mixable liquids can easily be combined.

into a homogeneous liquid by mere pouring together and stirring. With liquids which are not mixable, such as a fatty and a watery liquid, this is not possible and the mixin of such liquids can be effected only with t e aid of certain preparatory steps which are commonly termed homogenization. Homogenization is effected in general by breaking up and shattering the liquids so as to subdivide them into minute particles, thus making them more apt to be mixed. According to well known methods of homogenization this is brought about as a rule by triturating or grinding the particles of liquid, and to this end the liquids to be homogenized were forced through under high pressure, between surfaces tightly ressed upon one another, the particles of quid being torn asunder by friction in .contact with these surfaces. The homogenizing effect was further improved by imparting to the homogenizing surfaces a grinding movement. However, this method requires extremely high pressure involving considerable losses by friction and low output per unit of time. Moreover, the fine gaps through which the liquids are forced,

are liable to get clogged easily and must be machined with extraordinary care.

In contradistinction to these methods my invention entirely dispenses with such high pressure,narrow gaps and the like. I succeed in mixing all kinds of liquids by causing jets of such liquids to impinge upon each other with the highest possible velocity, whereby the liquid particles are broken up and mixed simultaneously without the aid of any grinding devices.

I prefer causing the jets of liquids to strike each other repeatedly and at different points, and I thus succeed in completely shattering the particles of liquid in the most perfect manner without any preliminary frictional treatment being required. Inasmuch as all that is required, is to cause the jets of liquid tohit upon each other, there is no necessity of employing narrow gaps requiring minute machining, the crosssectional area of the jet nozzles being such that the velocity of flow is increased as far as possible without any unnecessary frictional losses. In consequence of this manner of proceeding I obtain a high velocity of flow and I avoid the danger of the passages getting clogged.

In the drawings aflixed to this s ification and forming part thereof t e new method and a device for carryin it into effect are illustrated in a purely %iagram ,matic manner by way of example. In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the way in which jets of the liquids to be mixed are made to impinge upon each other in order to break the liquids up and render them fit for mixing.

Figs. 2 to 4 are purely diagrammatic views of a homogenizing device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 being a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation, while I Figs. 3 and 4 are two cross sections on the line I-I and II-II in Fig. 2, respectively.

Referring first toFig. 1, a metal block is provided with. a number of coaxially extending channels communicating with one another only indirectly by way of radial conduits. the first axial channel at a and in passing outwards the radial conduits a, (Z, are d1- verted once more into axial direction whereuponthey enter narrow radial channels 0, f disposed in exact alignment with their inner ends directly toward each other and giv- The liquids to be mixed enter GDOUS.

strike each other with great vehemence, being thereby broken up once more and intermingled, whereby the mixture affected during the passage through the channels 6 f g is rendered still more intimate and homog- From the channel 5 this mixture can now be conducted to another mixing device of a like or dir'i'erent nature or can be conveyed directly to the place of consumption. I

In the device designed in accordance with the principles above disclosed and which is illustrated in Figures 2-4, a conical body Ais round into and tightly seated in a block provided with a central boring a, playing the roll of the first central channel a in Figure 1. A perfect contact being secured between the conical body A and its seat, no narrow gaps affording a passage between the conical body and its seat are provided. The mixing and homogenizin of the liquids introduced through a is eifected by the aid.of annular grooves extending one above the other on theconical surface of the body A. Adjoining pairs of annular grooves are connected with each .ot-herby comparatively wide longitudinal channels. The liquids introduced through a first enter the. lowermost longitudinal channels it which are disposed diametrically opposite to each other and lead to the lowermost annular groove m which is connected with the next following groove m by a pair of longitudinal channels 7: disposed intermediate the channels h. Through the channels the liquid arriving through each channel It is divided in two branches, each of which will flow around one quarter of the annular groove m before entering one of the second longitudinal channels is. On entering these channels the jets of liquids strike one another with great vehemence, owing to the pressure exerted on the liquid entering the device and are broken up and intermixed. After rising in the channels 70 the liquid mixture is again divided into four branches flowing around one quarter of the cone before reaching the third pair of longitudinal channels 10 Upon enter ing these channels, the branch jets once more strike each other and intermingle whereupon the mixture rises in the channels 70 until it enters th third annular groove m which leads the branch currents of liquid to the fourth pair of longitudinal channels 10 wherein the liquid is broken up and intermixed anew before reaching the fourth annular groove m from which it issues into the longitudinal channels 0 in order to escape from the device.

Obviously the repeated breaking up of the liquid under pressure will result" in an intimate intermixing of its constituents, so that the mixture issuing from the channels 0 is absolutely homogenous.

@bviousiy, instead of arranging a pair of opposite longitudinal channels between the annular grooves, a single channel might be provided. Similarly, instead of a single pair of annular grooves, three or more such grooves may be connected by one or several longitudinal channels.

Shallow sharp edged depressions 12 may be provided in the annular grooves which serve to create whirls in the liquid in order to prevent it from flowing through smoothly, whereby the homogenization is further improved.

The longitudinal channels it 71: k which are wider than the relatively narrow annular grooves at the same time act for collecting and distributing the liquid and for breaking it up.

I Wish it to be understood that, although I have shown in Figures 2-4 a particular form of a device adapted for carrying out the method of homogenization forming part of the present invention, I do not desire to be limited to the number, configuration and mutual arrangement of parts shown and described, as many obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim 1. The method of mixing and homogenizing liquids, consisting in causing several jets of the liquid or liquids to be mixed to strike each other with high velocity.

2. The method of mixing and homogenizing liquids, consisting in causing oppositely directed jets of these liquids to strike each other repeatedly under pressure.

3. The method of mixing and homogenizing liquids, consisting in so conducting the liquids under pressure, that they are forced to meet and intermingle and the mixture thus obtained to separate into several streams or jets which will meet again with high velocity.

4. Liquid mixing and homogenizing device comprising in combination, a body, a plurality of borings extending through said body in longitudinal direction and substantiallv radial channels interconnecting adjoining pairs of such longitudinal channels.

5. Liquid mixing and homogenizing device comprising in combination, a perforated body, a solid body tightly seated in the perforation of said first body, a lurality of longitudinal channels forme in one of the contacting surfaces of said bodies and separated from one another and substantially circumferential grooves connectin adjoining pairs of longitudinal chan' ne s.

6. Liquid mixing and homogenizing device comprising in combination, a perforated body providing a conical seat, a cone tightly seated in the conical seat of said body, longitudinal channels in the circumference of said cone separate from each other and circumferential substantial annular channels interconnecting said longitudinal channels.

7. Liquid mixing and homogenizing device, comprising in combination, a perf0-' rated body providing a conical seat, a cone tightly seated in said seat, a plurality of annular circumferential grooves in one of the contacting surfaces and pairs of oppositely arranged longitudinal channels interconnectin adjoining pairs of such annular grooves, t e longitudinal channels between the second and third annular groove being staggered relatively to the longitudinal channels between the first and second 15 grooves.

8. Liquid mixing and homogenizing device comprising in-combination, a ho a plurality of borings extending through said body in longitudinal direction, substantially 2o radial channels interconnecting adjoinin pairs of such longitudinal channels an shallow sharp edged depressions in said channels.

In testimony whereof I afiix my. signature.

RUDOLF KNOLLENBERG. 

